July 7, 2025 • 20 mins
When Jesus frees a man from a demon, the crowd is amazed, but the Pharisees accuse Him of using dark powers—only to have their accusations dismantled by the One who holds true authority over all kingdoms.
Amid growing tensions with the Pharisees, Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, astonishing the crowd. As the Pharisees accuse Jesus of using demonic power, He exposes the absurdity of their claims and declares His authority, warning them that a divided kingdom cannot stand.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 12:25, from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, and every city or house divided against
itself will not stand Matthew twelve twenty five. Heavenly Father,
we thank you for your wisdom and the truth of
your word. You remind us in Matthew twelve twenty five
that a house divided cannot stand. Lord. We see how
(00:24):
darkness undermines itself, brings chaos and confusion, but we know
that in your light, darkness has no power over us.
Unite our hearts, O, God, to stand firm in your truth.
Remove any division among us, and fill us with your
(00:45):
peace and love. Strengthen us to walk in your light,
bound together by your holy spirit. Help us to be
agents of unity and stability, reflecting your glory in all
we do. May our lives shine so brightly that darkness
(01:08):
cannot prevail, and your kingdom is revealed through us. In
Jesus's name, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with
me today. This is the Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories
told with a cinematic touch and heartfelt reflection. Remain here
(01:31):
for another story on Jesus and Demons, and as always,
make sure to follow this podcast and share it with
a friend. Jesus Sat atop a grassy hill rising over
the plains of Galilee. From the distance, he could hear
the soft pulse of waves pressing and pulling against the
(01:53):
rocky shores. He had been driven here to find safety
from the Pharisees. Jesus knew than in the depths of
their hearts they were plotting to kill him, but he
trusted in his father, which allowed him to enjoy the
time away from the masses. The rest of the disciples
(02:13):
had gone off to scrounge up food for the night,
leaving Jesus alone, but Jesus didn't seem to mind one bit.
He welcomed the view as he used this time to recharge.
Hundreds of people would come to marvel at jesus miracles
day after day, wondering what it would be like to
(02:34):
wield such power, but Jesus never wondered what life for
them was like. He had taken on humanity in its entirety,
and just as they did. He grew tired at the
end of a long day's work. As Jesus watched the
first few stars break through the darkening sky, he heard
(02:57):
the disciples merely making their way to the camp.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
A shalloon shallon Jesus, we hope you haven't been lonely
while we were away.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Jesus's eyes stayed fixed on the stars. He knew every
inch of each one.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Oh, no, I've had the greatest company.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
That's good to hear. You seem to have something on
your mind. He's everything, all right, yes, perfectly, all right.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
I was just thinking about how much I appreciate each
and every one of you.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I know the days can.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Be long, but it's nice that we can get through
them together.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Jesus motioned to the disciples to come join him. They
enjoyed the quiet evening together before heading off to their
beds underneath the stars. To night would be one of
deep sleep and much needed rest, because it wasn't long
before the crowds found Jesus once again.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
We often hate what we don't understand, and we surely
hate what presses up against our pride. As followers of Christ,
we must lean into understanding his character and releasing our pride.
Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. Welcome to another episode showcasing
Christ's power and authority over demons. Today we'll hear a
(04:20):
new nickname for Jesus, King of Demons. We're delving into
a story that's as intriguing as it is challenging. It's
inspired by Matthew Chapter twelve, verses twenty two through forty two,
a narrative filled with miracles, accusations, and a rather serious
warning about the unforgivable sin. So buckle up, we're in
(04:42):
for an enlightening ride.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
The next day, a large group of people had made
their way to Jesus and the disciples little Hilltop camp.
They had brought with them those who were ill. The
gathering was filled with the moans of those with broken limbs,
the small whimpers of children burning up with fevers, and
the steady murmuring of every one awaiting the miracles of Jesus.
(05:11):
One by one, Jesus healed them all, giving each one
intimate care and attention. He would pray with them and
ask questions to learn more about their life. The great
physician wasn't focused on getting patients in now. He endeavored
(05:31):
to make a deep connection with each one, hoping to
see their physical healing open the door to a desire
for their spiritual healing. After healing the last of the sick,
Jesus urged the people to remain silent, about him, what
he had done, and where they had found him. Jesus
(05:53):
made his humble request, but he knew their obedience would
never last for long. Early the next morning, the crowd
returned with more sick. Jesus had instructed the crowds to
remain silent, but had fully expected that they wouldn't be
able to keep themselves away for long. Jesus wasted no time.
(06:17):
With the help of the disciples, he worked his way
through the crowds and healed each and every one of them.
Of course, the Pharisees had caught wind of Jesus whereabouts
and found it necessary to follow along. They remained close by,
keeping close watch from a distance and making commentary on
(06:39):
every move he made. Their constant questioning was like gnats
on a humid day, but Jesus wouldn't allow their resentfulness
to stop him from pouring out his love on the people.
Just as Jesus was about to depart from them, he
heard a scream come from into the crowd.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Show me who cries out among you?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Like Moses parting the Red sea. The crowd split in
two at jesus command. In the middle of the opening,
Jesus could see a blind and mute man groaning and
grunting on the floor. Dust churned up as he writhed
in pain. There was no doubt the man was possessed
(07:24):
by a demon. The crowd was stepping back in fear. However,
Jesus moved forward. Each step towards the demon was deliberate.
The disciples watched as the demon itself seemed afraid of Jesus.
Jesus could sense the fear and pain this man was enduring.
(07:46):
Although the man was blind and mute, the demon was not.
He saw Jesus then knew exactly who he was up against.
He sprang to his feet and tried to retreat. Few
men cried for someone to catch the possessed man, but
everyone seemed frozen with fear. The demon fled toward the disciples,
(08:08):
flailing his limbs about madly. Peter and John were the
first to come to their senses. They steadied their feet
and grabbed the man by his tunic. Before he could
make his way past them. The demon fell to the
ground and pulled against them. The disciple strained, nearly tearing
the man's clothes. Just as the cloth was about to tear,
(08:31):
a command poured out of the mouth.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Of Jesus get out of him.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
The man arched his back off the ground as his
chest rattled. He let out a loud gasp before returning
flat to the ground. The people stared in shock. The
entire hilltop was silent. The demon was gone. Jesus turned
the man on his back and touched his mouth and
(08:58):
eyes with the pad of his fingers. Then, in a
moment of complete tenderness, the man opened his eyes like
a new born babe. Blinding white light filled his vision.
He rubbed his face and opened his eyes again. This
(09:19):
time he saw Jesus, silhouetted against the morning light. Jesus
extended out his hand, helping the man to his feet.
The man ran his fingers along his throat and swallowed.
His jaw quivered as he opened his mouth to speak.
(09:41):
No one could deny that Jesus had done the unthinkable.
But how Someone in the crowd sputtered out a.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Question, Could this be the son of David?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
The words made their way through the spirited crowd and
into the ears. They irked pharisees, their faces stretched out
into sullen frowns. Their opinions of Jesus were much different
from the crowds, and they were more than willing to
answer the question.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
He is the prince of demons. How else can he
command demons with such confidence?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
He must be their ruler.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Jesus turned to the man who had been possessed and
pointed him in the direction of the disciples. They led
him off to tend to him. As Jesus turned back
to the Pharisees, he could hear their thoughts. He knew
they weren't actually sure where Jesus had come from or
with whose power he had cast out demons. In the
(10:44):
depths of their minds, he could sense their utter fear
for the man who commanded the evil spirits that they
could not. Rather than consider themselves inferior in some way,
they resorted to attributing Jesus power to the one source
they would never associate with themselves. Unable to allow such
(11:08):
an accusation to go undefended, Jesus raised his finger and
pointed it at the Pharisees.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Kingdom divided against itself will fall to ruin. Every city
and household divided against itself cannot hope to stand. Therefore,
if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself.
Tell me then, how his kingdom could stand. I am
not the first to drive out such spirits. Your own
(11:37):
people have done it before, Yet now you.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Claim I do so.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
By Beelzebub, you are greatly mistaken.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
What you see here is by the spirit of God.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
The Pharisees scoffed and dismissed him, as was expected. For
all the questions they loved to ask Jesus and the
remarks they made against him, they never bothered to actually
listen to his answers. They only waited for him to
finish speaking so they could make their rebuttals. However, Jesus
(12:11):
would not let the point go on, said. He continued speaking,
this time addressing the whole crowd.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever
does not gather with me scatters every sin. Every sin
will be forgiven if you ask, but hear me and listen.
Whoever blasphemes and rejects the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,
(12:41):
not in this age nor the age to come.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The crowd was disturbed. The thought of every sin being
forgiven was unthinkable. Even the best and most moral among
them held secret faults and invisible scars. But what caught
them off guard. Was hearing Jesus say for the first
time that something was beyond repentance, a terrible thought that
(13:09):
left them utterly afraid. The only ones who seemed unaffected
by jesus proclamations were the Pharisees. Their pride shielded their
hearts from being pierced with the truth of the Rabbi's words,
and as usual, they had their own thoughts to share.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Teacher, if you have such power and authority as you said,
show us a sign, then prove yourself for the sake.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Of their thing.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Call on fire like Elijah obtained the wild, like.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Elisha, A smug smile stretched across his face as he
waited to see how Jesus would respond. Jesus shook his
head in disappointment. Once again, his words fell on deaf
ears and hearts of storm. He desperately wanted them to understand,
(14:05):
but he knew they would remain unchanged. He let out
a heavy sigh of grief in frustration.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Ah, Yes, another evil, a dodgrous generation. Asks for God
to prove himself as if he's the one who needs
your approval. Let me tell you the sign you should
be looking for, just as Jonah rotted in the belly
of an underwater beast for three days and three nights.
So will the Son of Man be deep within the
(14:33):
belly of the earth for three days and three nights
before rising.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Jesus paced back and forth as he taught. Every set
of eyes followed him. He stroked his beard and paused
a question.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Isn't it interesting how those who had been condemned as
wicked were the ones to repent at the end of
that story.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
The image of Jonah being swallowed up by the fish
for three days was yet another shadow of the Gospel
placed in scripture. It was a foreshadowing of things to come,
and an image of Christ's ultimate defeat over the grave.
He would descend into the belly of the earth and
(15:14):
rise on the third day. The crowds, the disciples, and
the Pharisees did not understand, but they soon would, as
for now Jesus would allow them to stew in their
own hatred and bitterness. The Pharisees broke away from the
gathering and flew off like a murder of crows, with
(15:38):
their black robes rippling behind them. The people pressed in
around Jesus. The disciples returned with the man who had
been set free from the demon's possession. In mere minutes,
he looked like an entirely new man. Color had returned
to his face, which now wore a warm, pleasant smile.
(16:00):
He made eye contact with Jesus. He nodded a thanks
to the man who had saved his life, and now
he would stand with the rest of the crowd and
listen to the teacher's words who hope to save their souls.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Picture this scene. Jesus heals a man whose demon possessed
blind and mute in one fell swoop. The man speaks
and sees The crowd is astonished, murmuring could this be
the son of David? A translation, is this the Messiah
we're waiting for? But before the Hallelujahs can ring out,
the Pharisees reign on the parade sneering. He casts out
(16:43):
demons by beels above. The ruler of the demons talk
about missing the forest for the trees. Here's a man
liberating people from darkness, and the religious elite accuse him
of being in league with Satan. It's like accusing a
firefighter of arson because he's always at the scene of
the blaze. Jesus knowing their thoughts because he's Jesus and
(17:05):
that's what he does. Responds with impeccable logic. Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation. In other words,
why would Satan undermine his own operation? If evil starts
casting out evil, it's essentially self destructing. He adds a zinger,
and if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom
(17:27):
do your sons cast them out? Ouch? Jesus points out
their hypocrisy. Their own followers practiced exorcism, so are they
accusing their people of the same collusion. Then Jesus drops
this gem. How can one enter a strong man's house
and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man.
(17:47):
He's illustrating his authority over Satan. Jesus isn't just a
rival strong man. He's the one who binds Satan and
liberates those held captive. It's a cosmic jailbreak. Now here's
where against heavy. Jesus warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,
a sin that will not be forgiven. Many have worried
(18:08):
about accidentally committing this unforgivable sin, but let's unpack it.
The Pharisees witnessed undeniable evidence of the Holy Spirit's work
through Jesus, yet they attributed this work to Satan. Their
hearts were so hardened that they couldn't distinguish divine goodness
from evil. The unforgivable sin isn't a slip of the tongue.
(18:31):
It's a persistent, unrepentant heart that continually rejects the Holy
Spirit's testimony about Jesus. Jesus emphasizes, out of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth speaks. Our words are barometers
of our inner spiritual condition. The Pharisees blasphemy, revealed hearts
corroded by jealousy and pride. He warns that we'll give
(18:54):
an account for every idle word on the day of judgment.
It's like a spiritual audit of our speed. Are our
words building up or tearing down? Are we speaking life
or spreading poison? The Pharisees then have the audacity to
ask for a sign. Jesus responds, an evil and adulterous
(19:14):
generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be
given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. He points
to his future resurrection, the ultimate sign, so what does
this mean for us? First, we must be able to
recognize goodness. Let's not be like the Pharisees, so blinded
by our preconceptions that we call good evil and evil good. Next,
(19:39):
let's guard our hearts. Since our words reflect our hearts.
Let's fill our hearts with God's truth so that what
overflows is uplifting and truthful. Third, acknowledge Jesus' authority. Jesus
isn't just a miracle worker. He's the one who binds
the strong man. Whatever demons you're facing, be it addiction, fear,
(20:02):
or doubt, Jesus has authority over all of them. Jesus said,
he who is not with me is against me. There's
no neutral ground. The Pharisees made their choice, and it
led them down a path of spiritual blindness. Let's choose wisely.
Let's open our eyes to the work of God around us,
(20:23):
a tribute glory where it's due, and join Jesus in
his mission to liberate and heal. Remember calling a fire fire,
Remember calling a fire fighter an arsonist doesn't stop the fire,
It just keeps you trapped in a burning house. Let's
recognize our rescuer and embrace the freedom he offers
Let us pray, and every city or house divided against
itself will not stand Matthew twelve twenty five. Heavenly Father,
we thank you for your wisdom and the truth of
your word. You remind us in Matthew twelve twenty five
that a house divided cannot stand. Lord. We see how
(00:24):
darkness undermines itself, brings chaos and confusion, but we know
that in your light, darkness has no power over us.
Unite our hearts, O, God, to stand firm in your truth.
Remove any division among us, and fill us with your
(00:45):
peace and love. Strengthen us to walk in your light,
bound together by your holy spirit. Help us to be
agents of unity and stability, reflecting your glory in all
we do. May our lives shine so brightly that darkness
(01:08):
cannot prevail, and your kingdom is revealed through us. In
Jesus's name, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with
me today. This is the Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories
told with a cinematic touch and heartfelt reflection. Remain here
(01:31):
for another story on Jesus and Demons, and as always,
make sure to follow this podcast and share it with
a friend. Jesus Sat atop a grassy hill rising over
the plains of Galilee. From the distance, he could hear
the soft pulse of waves pressing and pulling against the
(01:53):
rocky shores. He had been driven here to find safety
from the Pharisees. Jesus knew than in the depths of
their hearts they were plotting to kill him, but he
trusted in his father, which allowed him to enjoy the
time away from the masses. The rest of the disciples
(02:13):
had gone off to scrounge up food for the night,
leaving Jesus alone, but Jesus didn't seem to mind one bit.
He welcomed the view as he used this time to recharge.
Hundreds of people would come to marvel at jesus miracles
day after day, wondering what it would be like to
(02:34):
wield such power, but Jesus never wondered what life for
them was like. He had taken on humanity in its entirety,
and just as they did. He grew tired at the
end of a long day's work. As Jesus watched the
first few stars break through the darkening sky, he heard
(02:57):
the disciples merely making their way to the camp.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
A shalloon shallon Jesus, we hope you haven't been lonely
while we were away.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Jesus's eyes stayed fixed on the stars. He knew every
inch of each one.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Oh, no, I've had the greatest company.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Ah.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
That's good to hear. You seem to have something on
your mind. He's everything, all right, yes, perfectly, all right.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
I was just thinking about how much I appreciate each
and every one of you.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I know the days can.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Be long, but it's nice that we can get through
them together.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Jesus motioned to the disciples to come join him. They
enjoyed the quiet evening together before heading off to their
beds underneath the stars. To night would be one of
deep sleep and much needed rest, because it wasn't long
before the crowds found Jesus once again.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
We often hate what we don't understand, and we surely
hate what presses up against our pride. As followers of Christ,
we must lean into understanding his character and releasing our pride.
Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. Welcome to another episode showcasing
Christ's power and authority over demons. Today we'll hear a
(04:20):
new nickname for Jesus, King of Demons. We're delving into
a story that's as intriguing as it is challenging. It's
inspired by Matthew Chapter twelve, verses twenty two through forty two,
a narrative filled with miracles, accusations, and a rather serious
warning about the unforgivable sin. So buckle up, we're in
(04:42):
for an enlightening ride.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
The next day, a large group of people had made
their way to Jesus and the disciples little Hilltop camp.
They had brought with them those who were ill. The
gathering was filled with the moans of those with broken limbs,
the small whimpers of children burning up with fevers, and
the steady murmuring of every one awaiting the miracles of Jesus.
(05:11):
One by one, Jesus healed them all, giving each one
intimate care and attention. He would pray with them and
ask questions to learn more about their life. The great
physician wasn't focused on getting patients in now. He endeavored
(05:31):
to make a deep connection with each one, hoping to
see their physical healing open the door to a desire
for their spiritual healing. After healing the last of the sick,
Jesus urged the people to remain silent, about him, what
he had done, and where they had found him. Jesus
(05:53):
made his humble request, but he knew their obedience would
never last for long. Early the next morning, the crowd
returned with more sick. Jesus had instructed the crowds to
remain silent, but had fully expected that they wouldn't be
able to keep themselves away for long. Jesus wasted no time.
(06:17):
With the help of the disciples, he worked his way
through the crowds and healed each and every one of them.
Of course, the Pharisees had caught wind of Jesus whereabouts
and found it necessary to follow along. They remained close by,
keeping close watch from a distance and making commentary on
(06:39):
every move he made. Their constant questioning was like gnats
on a humid day, but Jesus wouldn't allow their resentfulness
to stop him from pouring out his love on the people.
Just as Jesus was about to depart from them, he
heard a scream come from into the crowd.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Show me who cries out among you?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Like Moses parting the Red sea. The crowd split in
two at jesus command. In the middle of the opening,
Jesus could see a blind and mute man groaning and
grunting on the floor. Dust churned up as he writhed
in pain. There was no doubt the man was possessed
(07:24):
by a demon. The crowd was stepping back in fear. However,
Jesus moved forward. Each step towards the demon was deliberate.
The disciples watched as the demon itself seemed afraid of Jesus.
Jesus could sense the fear and pain this man was enduring.
(07:46):
Although the man was blind and mute, the demon was not.
He saw Jesus then knew exactly who he was up against.
He sprang to his feet and tried to retreat. Few
men cried for someone to catch the possessed man, but
everyone seemed frozen with fear. The demon fled toward the disciples,
(08:08):
flailing his limbs about madly. Peter and John were the
first to come to their senses. They steadied their feet
and grabbed the man by his tunic. Before he could
make his way past them. The demon fell to the
ground and pulled against them. The disciple strained, nearly tearing
the man's clothes. Just as the cloth was about to tear,
(08:31):
a command poured out of the mouth.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Of Jesus get out of him.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
The man arched his back off the ground as his
chest rattled. He let out a loud gasp before returning
flat to the ground. The people stared in shock. The
entire hilltop was silent. The demon was gone. Jesus turned
the man on his back and touched his mouth and
(08:58):
eyes with the pad of his fingers. Then, in a
moment of complete tenderness, the man opened his eyes like
a new born babe. Blinding white light filled his vision.
He rubbed his face and opened his eyes again. This
(09:19):
time he saw Jesus, silhouetted against the morning light. Jesus
extended out his hand, helping the man to his feet.
The man ran his fingers along his throat and swallowed.
His jaw quivered as he opened his mouth to speak.
(09:41):
No one could deny that Jesus had done the unthinkable.
But how Someone in the crowd sputtered out a.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Question, Could this be the son of David?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
The words made their way through the spirited crowd and
into the ears. They irked pharisees, their faces stretched out
into sullen frowns. Their opinions of Jesus were much different
from the crowds, and they were more than willing to
answer the question.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
He is the prince of demons. How else can he
command demons with such confidence?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
He must be their ruler.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Jesus turned to the man who had been possessed and
pointed him in the direction of the disciples. They led
him off to tend to him. As Jesus turned back
to the Pharisees, he could hear their thoughts. He knew
they weren't actually sure where Jesus had come from or
with whose power he had cast out demons. In the
(10:44):
depths of their minds, he could sense their utter fear
for the man who commanded the evil spirits that they
could not. Rather than consider themselves inferior in some way,
they resorted to attributing Jesus power to the one source
they would never associate with themselves. Unable to allow such
(11:08):
an accusation to go undefended, Jesus raised his finger and
pointed it at the Pharisees.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Kingdom divided against itself will fall to ruin. Every city
and household divided against itself cannot hope to stand. Therefore,
if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself.
Tell me then, how his kingdom could stand. I am
not the first to drive out such spirits. Your own
(11:37):
people have done it before, Yet now you.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Claim I do so.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
By Beelzebub, you are greatly mistaken.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
What you see here is by the spirit of God.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
The Pharisees scoffed and dismissed him, as was expected. For
all the questions they loved to ask Jesus and the
remarks they made against him, they never bothered to actually
listen to his answers. They only waited for him to
finish speaking so they could make their rebuttals. However, Jesus
(12:11):
would not let the point go on, said. He continued speaking,
this time addressing the whole crowd.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever
does not gather with me scatters every sin. Every sin
will be forgiven if you ask, but hear me and listen.
Whoever blasphemes and rejects the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,
(12:41):
not in this age nor the age to come.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The crowd was disturbed. The thought of every sin being
forgiven was unthinkable. Even the best and most moral among
them held secret faults and invisible scars. But what caught
them off guard. Was hearing Jesus say for the first
time that something was beyond repentance, a terrible thought that
(13:09):
left them utterly afraid. The only ones who seemed unaffected
by jesus proclamations were the Pharisees. Their pride shielded their
hearts from being pierced with the truth of the Rabbi's words,
and as usual, they had their own thoughts to share.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Teacher, if you have such power and authority as you said,
show us a sign, then prove yourself for the sake.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Of their thing.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Call on fire like Elijah obtained the wild, like.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Elisha, A smug smile stretched across his face as he
waited to see how Jesus would respond. Jesus shook his
head in disappointment. Once again, his words fell on deaf
ears and hearts of storm. He desperately wanted them to understand,
(14:05):
but he knew they would remain unchanged. He let out
a heavy sigh of grief in frustration.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Ah, Yes, another evil, a dodgrous generation. Asks for God
to prove himself as if he's the one who needs
your approval. Let me tell you the sign you should
be looking for, just as Jonah rotted in the belly
of an underwater beast for three days and three nights.
So will the Son of Man be deep within the
(14:33):
belly of the earth for three days and three nights
before rising.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Jesus paced back and forth as he taught. Every set
of eyes followed him. He stroked his beard and paused
a question.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Isn't it interesting how those who had been condemned as
wicked were the ones to repent at the end of
that story.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
The image of Jonah being swallowed up by the fish
for three days was yet another shadow of the Gospel
placed in scripture. It was a foreshadowing of things to come,
and an image of Christ's ultimate defeat over the grave.
He would descend into the belly of the earth and
(15:14):
rise on the third day. The crowds, the disciples, and
the Pharisees did not understand, but they soon would, as
for now Jesus would allow them to stew in their
own hatred and bitterness. The Pharisees broke away from the
gathering and flew off like a murder of crows, with
(15:38):
their black robes rippling behind them. The people pressed in
around Jesus. The disciples returned with the man who had
been set free from the demon's possession. In mere minutes,
he looked like an entirely new man. Color had returned
to his face, which now wore a warm, pleasant smile.
(16:00):
He made eye contact with Jesus. He nodded a thanks
to the man who had saved his life, and now
he would stand with the rest of the crowd and
listen to the teacher's words who hope to save their souls.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Picture this scene. Jesus heals a man whose demon possessed
blind and mute in one fell swoop. The man speaks
and sees The crowd is astonished, murmuring could this be
the son of David? A translation, is this the Messiah
we're waiting for? But before the Hallelujahs can ring out,
the Pharisees reign on the parade sneering. He casts out
(16:43):
demons by beels above. The ruler of the demons talk
about missing the forest for the trees. Here's a man
liberating people from darkness, and the religious elite accuse him
of being in league with Satan. It's like accusing a
firefighter of arson because he's always at the scene of
the blaze. Jesus knowing their thoughts because he's Jesus and
(17:05):
that's what he does. Responds with impeccable logic. Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation. In other words,
why would Satan undermine his own operation? If evil starts
casting out evil, it's essentially self destructing. He adds a zinger,
and if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom
(17:27):
do your sons cast them out? Ouch? Jesus points out
their hypocrisy. Their own followers practiced exorcism, so are they
accusing their people of the same collusion. Then Jesus drops
this gem. How can one enter a strong man's house
and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man.
(17:47):
He's illustrating his authority over Satan. Jesus isn't just a
rival strong man. He's the one who binds Satan and
liberates those held captive. It's a cosmic jailbreak. Now here's
where against heavy. Jesus warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,
a sin that will not be forgiven. Many have worried
(18:08):
about accidentally committing this unforgivable sin, but let's unpack it.
The Pharisees witnessed undeniable evidence of the Holy Spirit's work
through Jesus, yet they attributed this work to Satan. Their
hearts were so hardened that they couldn't distinguish divine goodness
from evil. The unforgivable sin isn't a slip of the tongue.
(18:31):
It's a persistent, unrepentant heart that continually rejects the Holy
Spirit's testimony about Jesus. Jesus emphasizes, out of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth speaks. Our words are barometers
of our inner spiritual condition. The Pharisees blasphemy, revealed hearts
corroded by jealousy and pride. He warns that we'll give
(18:54):
an account for every idle word on the day of judgment.
It's like a spiritual audit of our speed. Are our
words building up or tearing down? Are we speaking life
or spreading poison? The Pharisees then have the audacity to
ask for a sign. Jesus responds, an evil and adulterous
(19:14):
generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be
given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. He points
to his future resurrection, the ultimate sign, so what does
this mean for us? First, we must be able to
recognize goodness. Let's not be like the Pharisees, so blinded
by our preconceptions that we call good evil and evil good. Next,
(19:39):
let's guard our hearts. Since our words reflect our hearts.
Let's fill our hearts with God's truth so that what
overflows is uplifting and truthful. Third, acknowledge Jesus' authority. Jesus
isn't just a miracle worker. He's the one who binds
the strong man. Whatever demons you're facing, be it addiction, fear,
(20:02):
or doubt, Jesus has authority over all of them. Jesus said,
he who is not with me is against me. There's
no neutral ground. The Pharisees made their choice, and it
led them down a path of spiritual blindness. Let's choose wisely.
Let's open our eyes to the work of God around us,
(20:23):
a tribute glory where it's due, and join Jesus in
his mission to liberate and heal. Remember calling a fire fire,
Remember calling a fire fighter an arsonist doesn't stop the fire,
It just keeps you trapped in a burning house. Let's
recognize our rescuer and embrace the freedom he offers
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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